Georgia Tech Research Podcast

GTRI will soon welcome the next cohort of its STING (Sparking Technology Innovation and Growth) program, a 10-week professional development experience designed to help employees better understand sponsor needs, define meaningful problems, and collaboratively develop solutions with real-world relevance. The upcoming STING 7.0 cohort will begin in Spring 2026. STING first launched in 2020. The program was created to address a familiar challenge in applied research environments: many of the skills that lead to successful outcomes are difficult to formalize, often learned only through years of experience. STING was designed to bring out those skills, make them teachable, and give participants a structured way to practice them in a low-risk, but high-impact setting.

The latest episode of the Georgia Tech Research Podcast focuses on a critical but often unseen component of Georgia's agricultural infrastructure: the Georgia Poultry Laboratory Network (GPLN). Host Stephanie Richter, a senior research scientist in GTRI's ATAS laboratory, is joined by Dr. Louise Dufour-Zavala, executive director of GPLN, for a conversation on poultry health, disease prevention, emergency response, and the laboratory network's close coordination with industry, state, and federal partners. Throughout the episode, Richter and Dufour-Zavala explore how GPLN functions day to day, why its work is essential to Georgia's economy, and how science, speed, and communication work together when animal health is on the line. GPLN exists to help keep Georgia's poultry flocks healthy, safe, and market-ready. That mission plays out through an extensive testing and surveillance operation, with approximately 1.7 million samples processed annually. The episode emphasizes that this testing supports not only flock health but also food safety, business continuity, and export eligibility.

The latest episode of the Georgia Tech Research Podcast offers listeners a rare, behind-the-scenes look at XPAT through a conversation with the two researchers who led its development: Maxwell Tannenbaum and Dante Dimenichi of GTRI's Aerospace, Transportation, and Advanced Systems Laboratory (ATAS). XPAT, the X-band Polarization-Diverse AESA Testbed, was named GTRI's "Large Investment IRAD of the Year" earlier this year.

The Georgia Tech Research Institute (GTRI) podcast celebrates the 250th anniversary of the United States Marine Corps, Nov. 10, 2025. GTRI employees who are Marines share their experiences, emphasizing the Corps' traditions and values. Key moments include the Birthday Ball, which reinforces Marine identity, and deployments to Afghanistan and Iraq, highlighting the camaraderie and challenges faced. Stories from veterans including Courtney Daniels, Patrick Clark, Kirk Blehm, Kyle Blond, Terence Sterba, Rupert Simon, and Eric Scott, illustrate the Marine Corps' impact on their lives and the lessons they apply in their civilian roles at GTRI. The podcast underscores the importance of Marine Corps traditions in fostering teamwork, leadership, and resilience.

This episode of the Georgia Tech Research podcast discusses PFAs, or per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, with Dr. Christopher Heist and Jordan Ash. PFAs, known as "forever chemicals," are synthetic compounds with strong carbon-fluorine bonds, making them highly persistent in the environment. They are ubiquitous in products like waterproofing, stain-resistant fabrics, and firefighting foam. The episode highlights the challenges in analyzing PFAs due to their widespread presence and the need for specialized equipment. The discussion also covers the impact of PFAs on human health, including cancer risks, and the efforts to reduce exposure through filtration and product updates. The conversation emphasizes the importance of collaboration and ongoing research to address PFAs contamination. Dr. Heist will discuss the subject as a featured speaker during the Georgia Food Safety Conference, to be held Nov. 5- 6 at The Georgia Tech Research Institute Headquarters Conference Center (250 14th Street, Atlanta, GA).  

In the latest episode of the Georgia Tech Research Podcast, host Stephanie Richter speaks with Dr. Dimitri Mavris, Distinguished Regents Professor and Executive Director of Georgia Tech's Professional Master's in Applied Systems Engineering (PMASE) program. Now in his 46th year at Georgia Tech, Mavris reflects on his journey from student to professor and on the evolution of systems engineering as a discipline. "It wasn't the plan—it became the plan," he said. Mavris described PMASE as a program designed for working professionals navigating the increasing complexity of technology. He emphasized that staying relevant requires constant education. "Only by never stopping reading and learning will one have a chance of keeping up." Since taking leadership of the program, enrollment has grown from 28 to 81 students, supported by collaborations with GTRI researchers and Georgia Tech Professional Education. New initiatives include a certificate program for General Dynamics and plans for a European variant based at Georgia Tech-Europe. Mavris also discussed the growing influence of artificial intelligence and data-driven engineering. "AI isn't new," he said, "but its scale today makes discernment critical. Students must learn not just to use tools—but to judge what's credible."

The most recent episode of the Georgia Tech Research Podcast features a conversation with Georgia Tech Human Resources (GTHR) leaders about the many benefits and programs available to Georgia Tech and GTRI employees. Host Scott McAtee, assistant director-HR business partner at GTRI, is joined by Kimberly Goler-Stubbs, Yolanda McDaniel, and Michelle Jordan-Dumas, who each oversee different aspects of employee health, benefits, and retirement. The discussion highlights how Georgia Tech's benefits go beyond health care and retirement.

The latest episode of the Georgia Tech Research Podcast brings together two leaders from the Human Centered Engineering Division (HCED) at the Georgia Tech Research Institute (GTRI): Dr. Theresa Kessler, branch head of the Human Performance Branch, and Stuart Michelson, associate division chief. Together, they break down common misconceptions about human factors, explaining how careful attention to human-system interaction can save time, money, and even lives. They explain why trust is not the ultimate goal, why manpower, personnel, and training studies are critical, why UX/UI is more than attractive interfaces, and why human systems integration must be treated as foundational.

The latest episode of the Georgia Tech Research Podcast turns its focus to the people at the heart of cutting-edge defense and technology research. In this episode, Dr. Theresa Kessler, principal research scientist in the Human Centered Engineering Division (HCED) at the Georgia Tech Research Institute (GTRI), shares how her team's work bridges the gap between technology and the humans who depend on it. Dr. Kessler's research centers on improving the way humans interact with increasingly complex systems, particularly in defense contexts where clarity and reliability can have life-or-death implications. HCED integrates principles of psychology, engineering, and systems design to ensure that technology enhances, rather than hinders, human performance. "Our goal is to understand the human in the loop," Kessler explains in the podcast. "When systems are designed with human factors in mind, they become more intuitive, more resilient, and ultimately more effective."

GTRI's independent research and development (IRAD) investment aims to develop and advance research that addresses national security and global challenges. The latest episode of the Georgia Tech Research Podcast brings listeners into the 2025 IRAD Extravaganza, an annual event where Georgia Tech Research Institute (GTRI) researchers present their boldest ideas and emerging projects. This year, more than 200 posters filled the lobby and meeting spaces of GTRI Headquarters, creating an atmosphere buzzing with creativity, curiosity, and collaboration. The podcast episode features interviews with researchers, students, and leaders in attendance, each offering a unique perspective on the role of Independent Research and Development (IRAD) in shaping the future.   Speakers and time marks: Speaker #1 @01:22 = Walker Byrnes Speaker #2 @03:13 = Nathan Damen Speaker #3 @04:02 = Amy Mo Speaker #4 @04:40 = Julian Grinberg Speaker #5 @05:01 = Calvin Hur Speaker #6 @05:27 = Justice Williams Speaker #7 @06:12 = Benjamin Riley Speaker #8 @07:20 = Peter Tuuk Speaker #9 @09:10 = Alexis Noel Speaker #10 @10:24 = The Office of Technology Licensing (Mary Albertson – Director) Speaker #11 @13:24 = Judy Song Speaker #12 @15:18 = Shelby Allen; Robert "Bob" Wright Speaker #13 @19:45 = Thomas Williamson Speaker #14 @20:48 = Maxwell "Max" Tannenbaum; Dante Dimenichi Speaker #15 @25:01 = "IRAD of the Year" Winner - XPAT

In the most recent episode of the GTRI Tech Connect series, Principal Research Scientist Dr. Jon Duke discusses the groundbreaking Georgia All Payer Claims Database (APCD) project. APCD is a state initiative that centralizes health care claim data to improve access, quality, and cost of care for Georgians. Sponsored by the Georgia Office of Health Strategy and Coordination, the APCD aggregates over 1.5 billion medical records, 750 million pharmacy records, and even dental claims data from health insurers across the state. This massive, de-identified dataset allows researchers to address healthcare challenges at an unprecedented scale, from maternal and behavioral health to rural healthcare access.

In the latest episode of the Georgia Tech Research Podcast, GTRI Agricultural Technology Research Program (ATRP) research scientist Stephanie Richter interviews Maeve Mobley and Alyssa Albino, two Georgia Tech students who interned at ATRP. Alyssa, a business major with a concentration in marketing; and Maeve, a literature, media, and communications major, worked to tell ATRP's story in its marketing/communications unit. They discuss their roles in expanding the social media presence of ATRP. Maeve and Alyssa emphasize the importance of utilizing Instagram and LinkedIn accounts to effectively showcase ATRP's research and core values. 

In a special behind-the-scenes episode of the Georgia Tech Research Podcast, the usual hosts—Stephanie Richter and Eric Klein—become the guests. Hosted by summer intern Randeep Hora, a high school student with a keen interest in research and storytelling, this retrospective episode offers a candid, entertaining, and insightful look into the podcast's evolution, mission, and dynamic team.

In the latest episode of the Georgia Tech Research Podcast, the featured guest is Dr. Greg Badura, a senior research scientist in GTRI's Electro-Optical Systems Laboratory (EOSL). Greg talks about space imagery research and GTRI's evolving role in supporting space domain awareness. He also touches on his career, which spans both Earth observation and orbital object monitoring. The conversation also touches on Greg's ideas on mentorship and learning. He also provides nuggets of wisdom on collaboration.

In a special episode of the Georgia Tech Research podcast commissioned by GTRI's SERV@GTRI employee resource group (ERG), four GTRI professionals who are Army veterans share their personal journeys, reflections on Army history, and insights on how military service has informed their current roles. This episode is in commemoration of the 250th birthday of the U.S. Army.

The GTRI Agricultural Technology Research Program (ATRP) Co-op program is highlighted in the latest episode of the Georgia Tech Research Podcast. Austen Monteith, a fourth-year chemistry student at Georgia Tech, discusses his work on extending the lifetime of peracetic acid (PAA) in chiller water and GTRI researcher Dr. Jie Xu's nanoparticle project. Kortney Martin, a biology student at Kennesaw State University, focused on bacterial reduction and plating. They detail the collaborative nature of their research and how the program has influenced their career paths.

The latest episode of the Georgia Tech Research Podcast, spotlights a GTRI-led collaboration with the USDA Agricultural Research Service (ARS) focused on real-time sensing of peracetic acid (PAA) levels in poultry processing. The episode features Dr. Jie Xu, who leads the project, alongside team members Lance Barrett and Walker Byrnes. The host is Research Scientist Stephanie Richter.    

Senior Research Scientist Dan Sabo from GTRI's Intelligent Sustainable Technologies Division shares updates on his work with peracetic acid (PAA) in poultry processing. Dan now leads a project that's playing a critical role in food safety across the poultry industry. Stephanie Richter, host of the podcast, notes that Dan has become an invaluable resource not only for his technical expertise, but also for his ability to "translate" complex chemistry into practical solutions for the industry.

The latest episode of the Georgia Tech Research Podcast highlights the research and integration efforts of GTRI and the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). The episode focuses on GTRI's "Enhanced Chilling" project, which aims to improve immersive chilling processes, particularly in poultry processing applications. The guests are GTRI researchers Dr. Comas Haynes and Saikamal Srinivas.

The latest episode of the Georgia Tech Research Podcast is devoted to the research and integration efforts of Georgia Tech and GTRI. The episode's guests are Benjamin (Ben) Riley, a principal research associate in GTRI's Chief Technology Officer's office; and Benjamin (Ben) Yang, a principal research engineer in GTRI's CIPHER lab. They are the coordinators of the Hives Early Career IRAD program (FY26).  Ben and Ben give details about the program, which has a proposal deadline of March 28.